Congress leader Kishori Lal Sharma is set to submit his nomination for the Lok Sabha elections today, contesting from Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi constituency. Once a stronghold of the Gandhi family, Amethi saw a shift in 2019 when Rahul Gandhi lost to BJP’s Smriti Irani.
Rae Bareli, another Gandhi family stronghold, will be the location of Rahul Gandhi’s nomination filing in the interim. Gandhi served as the representative for Amethi in the Parliament from 2004 to 2019.
Until earlier this year, when she relocated to the Rajya Sabha, Rahul’s mother, Sonia Gandhi, served as the representative for Rae Bareli. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was tipped to challenge from Rae Bareli.
Kishori Lal Sharma has long been associated with the Gandhi family, serving as Sonia Gandhi’s representative in Rae Bareli. He acts as a key figure in both Rae Bareli and Amethi concerning matters related to the Gandhi family.
Sharma will face BJP’s Smriti Irani, who defeated Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 elections, in the electoral contest.
Originally from Punjab, KL Sharma began his political journey in Amethi as a Congress worker in 1983. He maintained close ties with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, continuing his Congress activism in Amethi even during the Gandhi family’s hiatus from electoral politics in the 1990s.
Sharma played a pivotal role in Sonia Gandhi’s electoral victory in 1999, which marked her entry into Parliament from Amethi. Upon Sonia Gandhi’s shift to Rae Bareli, Sharma accompanied her and managed affairs there as well.
Subsequently, in 2004, Rahul Gandhi took over the Amethi seat in the Lok Sabha, and Sharma extended his responsibilities to both Amethi and Rae Bareli.
Beyond Uttar Pradesh, KL Sharma has also been involved in Congress activities in Bihar and Punjab. Voting in both Amethi and Rae Bareli is scheduled for May 20.